1. Beels no longer a party leader for Antwerp municipal elections
Jinnih Beels is giving up her position as party leader for the Antwerp municipal elections. This was decided at a meeting of the Antwerp department of Vooruit. Her party leadership came under pressure since her fellow alderman Tom Meeuws left the city council. It is still unclear who will take over Beels’ party leader position. read more
2. Trailer group Schmitz Cargobull is VDL’s partner for Van Hool
Guido Dumarey is facing stiff competition for his bid for Van Hool. The Dutch VDL forms a tandem with the German trailer group Schmitz Cargobull, the market leader in semi-trailers. read more
3. Demir extends Brussels Airport environmental permit
The Flemish government has extended the environmental permit of Brussels Airport. This is reported by the office of Flemish Minister of the Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA). There will be no ban on night flights, but the minister does impose a number of conditions on the airport. read more
4. CEO of the education inspectorate denounces Weyts’ political pressure
The CEO of the Flemish education inspectorate, Lieven Viaene, warns that the independence of the inspectorate is at stake. He has been at odds with Minister of Education Ben Weyts (N-VA) for years. “We are regularly silenced.” read more
5. No world record for Matthieu Bonne
Due to the heavy wind of the past few hours, ultra athlete Matthieu Bonne decided to give up his world record attempt on Friday morning. He has to go to the hospital for a check-up. This means he will have to abandon his attempt to walk 1,038 kilometers in six days. read more
6. Drug criminal ‘Fat Nordin’ on his way to Belgium after extradition from Dubai
Nordin El H., (36), alias ‘Fat Nordin van de Dam’, is on his way to Belgium. The wanted drug baron, against whom seven files are pending for large-scale cocaine smuggling and arms trafficking, has been put on a plane from Dubai by the Emirati authorities. read more
7. “Dozens killed after Israeli airstrikes on Aleppo”
Dozens of people are said to have been killed in Israeli air strikes on Aleppo on Wednesday night. Two Syrian government officials told Reuters that at least 38 people had been killed. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports 36 deaths. read more
8. Zelensky fears new, large-scale Russian offensive
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fears a new, large-scale Russian offensive in the short term, “in roughly May or June”. He said this in front of the camera of the American CBS News during a visit to the front in the east of the country. read more
9. Harmful bacteria present in too many waterways
This month, citizens measured the presence of the bacterium E. coli in surface water. They found too much of it in a third of the measuring locations.Read more
10. Jasper Philipsen suits up for the Tour of Flanders
Jasper Philipsen, winner of Milan-San Remo two weeks ago, will not participate in the Tour of Flanders on Sunday. His Alpecin-Deceuninck team confirms this. Philipsen will focus on Paris-Roubaix. read more
